For this cross-sectional study, the investigators examined participants on chartered and special-emphasis NIH study sections from May 15–July 15, 2019. Their analysis included 367 study sections with 8,817 participants. The researchers extracted data about study section reviewers and scientific review officers, and funding agencies. They determined the individuals’ sex through name-based internet searches for pictures and pronouns.
The investigators found study sections had more men than women as reviewers (61.1% vs. 38.9%). Additionally, study sections chaired by women were slightly less likely to have women as reviewers (P=0.03); whereas, study sections within an institute with a woman chair were slightly more likely to have women as reviewers (P=0.049).
The authors concluded their paper by stating that it’s critical the NIH make intentional efforts to increase the representation of women in study sections. For example, they suggest one possible way to reduce disparities maybe to have study sections created through committees or applications rather than individual recruiters.
Lara C. Pullen, PhD, is a medical writer based in the Chicago area.
References
- Just 30% of the world’s researchers are women. What’s the situation in your country? UNESCO. (n.d.) Accessed March 18, 2021.
- Jagsi R, DeCastro R, KA Griffith, et al. Similarities and differences in the career trajectories of male and female career development award recipients. Acad Med. 2011 Nov;86(11):1415–1421.
- Sege R, Nykiel-Bub L, Selk S. Sex differences in institutional support for junior biomedical researchers. JAMA. 2015 Sep 15;314(11):1175–1177.
- Oliveira DFM, Ma Y, Woodruff TK, et al. Comparison of National Institutes of Health grant amounts to first-time male and female principal investigators. JAMA. 2019 Mar 5;321(9):898–900.
- Volerman A, Arora VM, Cursio JF, et al. Representation of women on National Institutes of Health study sections. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Feb 1;4(2):e2037346.
